James Talarico was a 23-year-old middle school teacher when an 11-year-old inspired him to run for office—now he’s making history in Texas as Senator

In the recent U.S. midterm elections, Democrats made significant gains across key states, including Texas. Democrat James Talarico emerged victorious in the race to become the state's Senator, marking the first time a Democratic Senator has been elected in Texas since 1988. Talarico's journey to this historic moment began as a middle school teacher in San Antonio, where he witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of state budget cuts on students and teachers.

In 2011, the Texas Legislature slashed $5.4 billion from public school funding, leaving students from impoverished areas without essential resources and teachers struggling to make ends meet. Inspired by these experiences, Talarico decided to run for office and ultimately succeeded in flipping the district from Republican to Democratic control.

During his campaign, he shared the story of an 11-year-old student named Justin, whose struggles—having been abandoned by his mother and expelled from a previous school for violent behavior—motivated Talarico to run for office and advocate for better support for students facing trauma and adversity. Talarico has since served as the Central Texas executive director of an education nonprofit, and now as a Senator, he remains committed to addressing issues such as school funding, mental health support, and addressing the needs of students facing challenging circumstances.